Adjustable holder for compressible cllaning materials



July 26, 11949.

D. D. WOLFE 2,477,471 ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR COMPRESSIBLE CLEANING MATERIALS Filed June 17, 1944 iNVENTOR DANIEL D. WOLFE l/m E114 I TTORNEY 1 so as to prevent disengagement of said fingers I from the ring-like member 1.

Each of said fingers has an outwardly inclined said fingers terminating in the inwardly directed prongs I5 at the end of each of said fingers. Each of said fingers is, preferably, V-shapedcross section, as will be obvious from Fig. 3, thus providing substantially a central ridge or rib run ning lengthwise of each of said fingers at l6 so as to stiffen the same and prevent any bending thereof under the stresses to which the same are subjected during use. p

Due to the loose connection between the hooklike ends 9 of said fingers and the ring-like member 1, the fingers will be swingingly mountedon the ends of the handle member 5 to project endwise therebeyond andcollect'ively form a cagelike receptacle for the compressible material, such as the mass of steel wool l1 shown in Fig. 1. Means is provided for simultaneously moving the fingers l0 toward the axis of the handle 5, or away from the axis of the handle 5, as may be found desirable, to either compress the material I"! and firmly hold it to the handle, or to release the material so as to permit removal thereof, or;

open the cage-like receptacle to permit insertion of said material :"lwithin said cage-like receptacle. Said means for adjusting the position of said fingers I0 is, preferably, of such a character that the same can be readily adjusted without engagement of the operators fingers with the material H, which, particularly in the case ofsteel wool, is very undesirable, and which is furthermore preferably so constructed as to holdthe.

fingers ID in any adjusted position that the same assume,

The means for adjusting the fingersand h0ld-.

ing the same in adjusted position comprises a disk-like member l8, which is provided with .a plurality of openings l9 therein for receiving the outwardly inclined portions l2 of the fingers l0 slidably. Preferably, the disk-like member is. provided with a flange or rim portion 20 to stiffen thesame; Said rim portion 20 may engage the outwardly inclined portions [2 of the. fingers to force the same toward the axis of the handle 5, to compress the material between said fingers and embed said fingers in said material, although such engagement is not absolutely necessary. However, if any springing of the fingers under pressure occurs, such engagement of saidflange may occur. Means is provided for moving the disk-like member 58 axially of the handle 5, said means, preferably, comprising a knob-like member 2! mounted upon the shaft-like member 22, being,

preferably, fixed thereto by means of a pin. 28

and being curved so as to form a rounded end portion on the holder of a cap-like character, merging with the curved side walls of the handie 5. Preferably, a screw-threaded member 23 is fixed to the shaft 22 by any suitable means,

4 ter of the disk-like member l8, as will be obvious from Fig. 2. As the disk-like member l8 will be held against rotation due to the collective action of the fingers ID to resist such movement, rota- ,tion of the knob-like member 2| will rotate the shaft 22 and advance the disk-like member l8 along the screw-threaded member 23 either toward the handle 5 or away from the handle 5, de-' pendent-uponi'the directionof'rotation of the knob-like-member- 2|. Either'the' member 23 or 2| can be made integral with the shaft 22 if desired.

It .will'be, obvious from the above description that the fingers I 0 can be readily adjusted by movement of the disk-like member l8 by rotation of the knob-like member 2| on the handle to firmly grip and compress the steel wool or similar material l1 between the fingers ID, or to move 7 said fingers apart to permit the material I! to be such as a pin 24, in such a manner that the shaft 22 is held .against endwise movement in the handle 5 due to the cooperation of the knob 2| and the enlarged threaded member 23, and so that the parts 22 and 23 rotate together. The

threaded member 23 has screw-threaded engagement with a screw-threaded opening in the cenpulled out of the receptacle therefor formed by said fingers,.axially of the handle 5, and that said fingers will be held in adjusted position due the direction of movement of the disk-like mem-- ber I8. i

Should it be found desirable to simplify the to the interlocking relationship of the disk |8J construction of the device to save on the cost of,

production thereof, it maybe desirable to provide the adjusting. means shownin Fig. 4, in

which the handle 5' is provided with a screw-- threaded opening therein, with which the screwthread-ed shaft22' engages. The disk-like member l8 engages the fingers IE in the same manner as previously described, said fingers being of the same shape and similarly mounted on the' reduced end portion. 6 of the handle 5 as the fingers [0 in the form of the. invention shown in Figs. 1.to3,- inclusive, and having thev same con-' tour or shape as said fingers 1-3 in the other form of the invention.

the disk-likeqmember l 8 and-functions in the he disk-like member I8" is r constructed substantially: in the same manner as same manner by movement axially'of the handle 5', asdoes the disk-like member IB. Said disklikemember i8, is, however, mounted on the shaft-like member-22'. so that said shaft-like member 22' isrotatable relative to said disk-like member l8, but said disk-like-member I8 ismovable axially with the shaft-like member 22' as a unit, this beingaccomplished by providing a reduced end portion 25 on said shaft-like member 22, providing a shoulder, between which and the washer 26 the disk-like member 18 is;

mounted, said washer 26 being held between said disk-like member and the head 21 formed on the reduced end portion 25 of said shaft-like member 22".

It will be. obvious that if the shaft 22' is rotated by a knob-like member similar to that provided for the member 22, the shaftwill travel endwise in the handlemember 5 to move the reduced end portion 25 thereof either toward or, away from the handle 5', dependent. upon the die rection of rotation of said shaft 22', thus either causing. the fingers IE to separate or to move to- Ward eachother to grip the material I! therebetween, as in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. 1

What I claim is:

1. A holder for use with-amass of compi essible material, comprising an elongated handle;

armada &3), membemau pluralityof, circumferentiadlyaspacedl ancuate rigid-fingersa mounted; to 1, projects GIIdWiSBi beyond said ihandle: member-1: in": aicireulan :seriesi inzembraoing relationrtolsaidzmateriahrandmeans fbn;simultaneously-moving said; fingers toward thei-axisofisaidi handlei tin compress material and]embedrsaidafingersltlrereiniorrawaycfromsaidi axis toz-w release saidi material; said fingers (6011685 tilvcl r forming am annular cageslike 1 container: fonsaidi-material; said: means comprising: aediske likes member having; openings thereini 'slidazblyl receiving: said: fingers throughrwhich saidl fingsrsa pass, andv rotatable means extendingj throughi saidehandle: member,. said" rotatable; means? being: fixed; againstl movement, axiallynrelative tbs oner of:'saidi-1nembers aIIdSCIGWvthIBadGEUY-EGDXZLHQOtBClZ: with the other of said members twmovewsaidi dislrailiheiwmernben-lengthwise of said fingers upon rotation of said means to adjust the position of said disk-linermembenand fingers and to hold said diskelikeimember andfingers inany adjusted position tliereoil i I 2. A holder for use with a mass of'compressible material, comprising arr elongatedliandle member, a plurality of spaced rigidifingers swingably mounteddnian annular series about oneend of said i handle. member to project, endwise there-- beyond; eachoi said fingers having, an outwardly inclined,- portion extendin from. its: mountingwn saidhandle, and a curved hookslilre portiontoxe tending: from said outwardlyinclined: portion terminating-in a pronged endtdinectedi toward the axismftsaid handle memberand means for simultaneously moving said fingers towardnt'he axis of said handle,member to compress said material and embed 'said fingers-therein or away from :said axis to release said materiah, said" fingers: collectively forming ani annular: cagelike container for said material, said means comprising a disk-like member having an annular series of openings therein in which said outward- 1y inclined portions of said fingers are confined and slidably mounted, and rotatable means extending through said handle member, said rotatable means being fixed against movement axially relative to one of said members and screw-- threadedly connected with the other of said members to move said disk-like member lengthwise of said fingers upon rotation of said means and to hold said disk-like member in position at any point along said outwardly inclined portions of said fingers.

3. A holder for use with a mass of compressible material, comprising an elongated handle, a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate rigid fingers mounted to project endwise beyond said handle in a circular series in embracing relation to said material, and means for simultaneously moving said fingers toward the axis of said handle to compress said material and embed said fingers therein or away from said axis to release said material, said fingers collectively forming an annular cage-like container for said material, said means comprising a disk-like member having openings therein slidably receiving said fingers to confine the same, and. means for moving said disk-like member lengthwise of said fingers to adjust the position of said disklike member and fingers and hold said member and fingers in any adjusted position. thereof, comprising a rotatable knob-like member on said handle at the end thereof opposite that from which said fingers project, and means extending longitudinally through said handle and connected with said disk-like member to move the same ralityof; circumferenifially; spacedrfingersaswinga ably mformtedz in: anz-annular series; about: onezends oi", saidz 'handler to projects endiwisea thenebeyondz; each oirsaid-ifingers havingltan outwardly iniclinedz portiona extending: from its; mounting and :saido handle :anda'awcurved hoole-like: plortioncextenidingr' fromisaid'zoutwardly inclined?portionterminatingr: inlaa; pronged: end: directedzt'oward: the: axiscofc saidvhandle, and means for simultaneouslyemowing; saidr'fingems towardi the longitudinal; axis: o'fz saidrhandle to compress: saidrmaterialiandiembeds said: fingers; 91181131111401? away from said axis: release sairli maizerial asai'clr fingers collectively: forming an annulan" cagealike: container: for said; material; .saidzmeans comprising azdiskz-liliemema-x berwhapvingeslotsstlrlerein'sin' which said outwardly inclined? portionsrofisaid fingersare s'lidablyv mounted; andfmeansfor: moving; saidzz'diskz-lilcef membem'lengthwise of? said fingers: and holclingithe same in position at anyr rpoiniraiongi said: outwardlyinclinedlpontionsaof: said; fingers, .coniprising a: rotatable hnobelikeg memhen on; saidr handle at the endr thereof? opposite? that from; which *saidv fingers; project,-

anda mefansw BXtelIdT- ing-i longitudinally through: said IIfi-Ildlfifdlldiilfill? nectedi withqi-saidr 'diskelikez member 1707. move the same; axially of said? cagea-likermemloen" upon z rottationof saiddsnob-l'ikemember: :w:

55;Anh01d81fif01l use withiai mass at compress-ible material, com-prising; am elongated handle; an plu rality of t oircumferentiailyspaced ancuate fin'gers mounted to.- project; endwise-beyondi said: handle inia; circular seriesrinz embracing? relation tonsaidr materiah; andy means ion-3' simultaneously movinglrl said fingers toward, :the longitudlnalw axis o'fs' sai'cli handle to compress said material and embed said fingers therein or away from said axis to release said materiahsaid fingers collectively forming an annular cage-like container for said material, said means comprising a disk-like member having an annular series of slots therein through which said fingers pass, and means for moving said disk-like member lengthwise of said fingers to adjust the position of said disk-like member and fingers and hold said member and fingers in any adjusted position thereof, comprising a rotatable knob-like member on said handle at the end thereof opposite that from which said fingers project, and means extending through said handle and connected with said disk-like member, comprising a screw-threaded member connected with said knob-like member to be rotated thereby and threadedly connected with said disk-like member to move said disk-like member axially away from said handle into said cage-like container upon rotation of said knoblike member in one direction and toward said handle upon rotation of said knob-like member in the opposite direction.

6. A holder for use with a mass of compressible material, comprising an elongated handle, a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers swingably mounted in an annular series about one end of said handle to project endwise therebeyond, each of said fingers having an outwardly inclined portion extending from its mounting on said handle and a curved hook-like portion extendin from said outwardly inclined portion terminating in a pronged end directed toward the axis of said handle, and means for simultaneously moving said fingers toward the longitudinal axis of said handle to compress said material and embed said fingers therein or away from said axisto'release said material, said fingers collectively forming an annular cage-like container for said material, said means comprising adisk-like member having an annular series of slots therein in which said member connected with said knob-like member to be rotated thereby and connected threadedly with said disk-like member to move said disk-like member axially away from said handle into said cage-like container upon rotation of said knoblike I member in one direction and toward'said handle upon rotation of said knob-like member in the opposite direction.

7; A holderfor use with a mass of compressible material, comprising an elongated handle, a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers swingably mounted in an annular series about one end of said handle to project endwise therebeyond, each of said fingers having an outwardly inclinded portion extending from its mounting on said handle and a curved hook-like portion extending from said outwardly inclined portion terminating in a pronged end directed toward the longitudinal axis of said handle, and means for simultaneously moving said fingers toward the axis of said handle to compress said material and embed said fingers therein or away from said axis to release said material, said fingers col- 8 7 lectively forming an annular cage-like container for said material, said means comprising a disk like member having openings therein in which said outwardly inclined portions of 'saidfinger's are slidably mounted, and means for moving said disk-like member lengthwise of said fingers and holding the same in position at any point along said outwardly inclined portions of said fingers, comprising a rotatable knob-like member on said handle at the end thereof opposite that from fromwhich said fingers project, a shaft rotat able with said knob-like member extending-- axially through said handle and projecting beyond the end of the same from which said fingers project, and means on said projecting end having a screw-threaded connection with said disklike member.

DANIEL D. WOLFE.- 7

REFERENCES CITED v The following references are of, record in the file of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number France Oct. 29, 1926 

